Spireites lose at Alfreton

The Spireites suffered a 2-0 defeat at Alfreton Town in their penultimate pre-season fixture.

The National League North side took their chances with goals from Richard Peniket and Tom Denton and unfortunately the Spireites couldn’t take their opportunities.

After a slow first ten minutes Alfreton opened the scoring, as a long throw was flicked on goal wards by striker Denton, which was then tapped home from close range by Peniket (11).

They nearly extended their lead in the 20th minute, as a mazy run from Callum Chettle took him to the edge of the area where the ball fell to Peniket, but he blazed his effort over the bar.

Chesterfield then pushed for an equaliser, and came close to doing so when Sam Wedgbury sent a looping cross to the back post, only for striker Lee Shaw to volley just wide.

The chances kept on coming for Town as a speculative long range effort from Laurence Maguire went just over the bar and a tempting cross from Drew Talbot only needed a slight touch from striker Luke Rawson, but he failed to connect .

Five minutes before half time, some good play from Ify Ofoegbu allowed Shaw to run through on goal, but some good tracking back from the Alfreton defenders saw him get the ball stuck under his feet, and eventually roll out for a goal kick.

After the break the Spireites started the stronger of the two teams, as substitute Bradley Barry fizzed in a cross from the right hand side, but Shaw couldn’t stretch far enough to get the correct contact.

It was then Alfreton who were on the front foot and Chettle put Craig King through with a clever pass, only for Joe Anyon to save smartly.

The Alfreton pressure continued, and resulted in King causing the Spireites defenders problems again, putting in a pin-point cross in from the right for Denton to head home for their second (63).

Some good link up play between Levi Amantchi and Shaw put the new signing through on goal, but a heavy touch gave the Alfreton keeper a chance to close the angle and save his effort.

A route one ball from keeper Anyon then put Shaw in again he saw that effort saved, then missed a chance to header in from close range after a ball in from Barry. The resulting corner fell to the feet of Maguire but his close range strike was blocked.

In the closing minutes, a long throw in from a triallist was met by Maguire whose header produced a stunning save from the Alfreton keeper.

The Spireites now look to their final pre-season friendly against Matlock on Monday night.